July 30, 2009 Letters to the Editor

Milbridge’s black eye

Granted, there are truths in the articles, but perhaps reporters could do well-rounded articles where all sides are taken into account and less sensationalism is used.

Words like “melee” may sell newspapers but Milbridge is getting a very bad reputation because of those words. Perhaps your staff should interview bystanders who were standing in front of the Ray house when the fight took place. This brawl was not at the cod fish race as reported. It was across the street at a private residence and there was a crowd watching the fight because it was at the top of a dead end road.

Also, the BDN should continue covering Mana en Mano and its lawsuit against the town. Mano en Mano is not required to pay taxes on its million-dollar development, which is why people in Milbridge are upset.

That property will have children enrolled in our public schools, trash pickup, roadside plowing, etc., and yet, they expect to have everyone in town smile at them because they are willing to give $2,000 per year to the town. Because of our town and school budgets, we need the 18 percent (or $18,000 per year) of the fair market value of their development.

Schools, municipal expenses, law enforcement and lawsuits are not inexpensive. This money could be essential to securing our police department. After all, Milbridge is a dangerous place, at least according to the BDN.

Jan Rossi

Milbridge

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Fix health care now

With our current health care system, we are getting further and further behind. Premiums are growing so fast that we need to opt for higher deductibles in order to get any care. I, fortunately, have insurance but some of my co-workers are unable to afford any.

We need to reduce costs, guarantee the right to choose a doctor and have the option for a public insurance plan. Congress cannot be bought by big Pharma and the insurance companies again. It is time to take charge of our health care and pass reform of the health care system now.

Fred Oney

Limestone

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Common welfare

The idea to “promote the common welfare” was important enough to the framers of our Constitution that not only is it in the first sentence, but repeated in Section 8, which lists powers and responsibilities of Congress.

This was sound judgment; in some ways, we sink or swim together.

If a considerable portion of the population has no access to health care, in event of an epidemic, those less fortunate will be more likely to infect those who do have access. Thus ensuring access benefits the common welfare.

Presumably, those who wish to maintain the practice of allowing access only to some because to give health care to all is socialism, don’t use public roads or schools. Public ownership and equal access define socialism.

You’ve heard repetition of the need for a level playing field for insurance companies. What about us citizens?

In 10 states, two companies control 80 percent of the market. This is why someone in Maine got an insurance quote of $1,700 a month. Why, when a child loses a parent, can she also lose her insurance? Why do insurance companies tell doctors what they can and can’t do? Is America too dumb to do what every other industrialized country has figured out? No, I don’t think so.

In this battle, money is both the weapon and the prize. Belief in the sanctity of human life generates values such as access to health care. Money for a few or health care for all: Which promotes the common good?

Mary King

Litchfield

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Natives, summer folk

The BDN’s July 27 editorial “Summer People” sets up as “natives” vs. “summer people.” I hope this isn’t the case, as we have spent our summers here for the last 12 years. We own property here and spend a lot of our dollars for newspapers, taxes, utilities, food, home repairs, home additions, home construction, gas, car care, art, etc.

When a Mainer rents his home to summer people he does it for a profit.

If tourism is Maine’s top industry, then perhaps the “natives” should be glad the “summer people” are here spending their hard-earned dollars in Maine. Also, consider that a large number of people who call Maine home travel to other states such as Florida, South Carolina, Arizona and California for time away in the winter. I hope they are welcomed into those states for their dollars spent.